Eating appliance



1. B. A. LA JEUNESSE. EATING-APPLIANCE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.21| I919.

Patented Mar. 14, 1922.

Fig.5

//V VENT I? BX ATTORNEY JEAN B. A. LA JEUNESSE, 0F ALAMEDA, CALIFORNIA.

EATING APPLIANCE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 14, 1922.

Application filed August 21, 1919.' Serial No. 318,961.

T 0 all w hom it may concern Be it known that I, JEAN B. A. LA JnUNEssE, of Alameda, California, have 1nvented certain new and useful Improvements in Eating Appliances, whereof the following is a specification.

This invention relates to devices for assisting cripples and others who are more or less incapacitated, in feeding themselves.

In carrying out the invention I mount a swinging arm, adapted to swing vertically, so that it may be operated by a foot. 0 this arm I attach a fork, or other utensil, which may be depressed and brought into contact with morsels of food in a plate, for example, to hold the same or to seize and eleveto it, in a manner similar to that when the utensil is used by hand.

the swinging arm may be pivoted.

Figure 5 is a View of a strap to hold the foot of the standard to a base.

In the figures: A base block 1 is held toa table 2 by a clamp 3. To the base 1 is secured the strap 4, which holds the standard 5 by the insertion of the right angled portion of the latter 6 under the strap. An arm 7 is pivoted to the top of the standard 5 by the pivot 8. At the end of the arm 7 is pivoted the fork 9, by means of the thumb screw 10, entering a slot 11 in the base of the fork. A shoulder 12, on the end of arm 7, engaging the edge of the fork, limits the play of the latter. The fork is depressed by a cord 13, attached to arm 7 at a suitable point 14, and extending over pulleys 1.5 and 16,1;0 a treadle 17. A third pulley 18, opposite pulley 16, adapts the device for left hand or right hand use, according to the disability of the user. The fork, being depressed by the cord 13, may engage the morsel of food19 on the plate 20, as seen in dotted lines in Figure 1. The food may then be held, whilst being served, and the served portion then raised, as seen in full lines in Figure 1, for further action. The arm 7, with the fork and morsel of food are raised to the upright position, seen in full lines in Figure 1, by a weight 21. The weight 21 is slidable upon the arm, for pur poses of adjustment, and is secured by a set screw 22. I prefer the weight to a spring because it is more uniform in its action, and I prefer it to an auxiliary treadle, because 1t is automatic.

Having thus described my invention, and an embodiment of it, in the full, clear and exact terms required by law, and knowing that it comprises novel, useful and valuable improvements in the art to which it pertains, I here state that I do not wish to be limited to the precise construction and arrangement of the several parts, as herein setforth, as the same may be variously modified by a skilled mechanic without departing from the spirit of the invention.

lVhat I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is the fol' lowing, to-wit 2- laims:

1. An instrument of the class described, having a swinging arm, means for depressing said arm into engagement with a portion of food and adjustable weight on said arm for elevating the same.

2. An instrument of the class described, having a swinging arm, means for depressing said arm to engage a portion of food, and a weight upon said arm for elevating the same. 3. An instrument of the class described, comprising a base, a removable standard mounted upon said base, a swingingarm pivotally mounted upon said standard, a

utensil pivotally secured at one end of said I arm, a cord for depressing said arm and a weight upon said arm for elevating the same. 4. An instrument of the class described, comprising a base adapted to be clamped upon a table, a standard secured to said base, a swinging arm pivoted to said standard, a utensil at one end of said arm, a weight upon said arm adapted to elevate said utensil, and means for depressing said utensil into en aging position consisting of a treadle provided with means engaging said swinging arm.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing I have hereto set my hand this 16th day of Aug, 1919, in the presence of two witnesses.

JEAN B. A. LA JEUNESSE. Witnesses:

W. S. BATES, FLORENCE L. VVoLFE. 

